The eighteenth was a normal school day. Hyodo Michiru and Aki Tomoya share the same birthday.
But celebrating with her would definitely be a one-sided effort taking care of that girl again.
Besides, how late would it be after returning from the cram school evening cram school? Let's put the birthday aside for now.
After refusing Hyodo Michiru's suggestion of celebrating their birthday together, when he arrived at school in the morning, he received a birthday card in his shoe locker.
"Happy Birthday..."
Aki Tomoya flipped the birthday card over; on the back was a drawing of Tokyo University's open gate and a miniature of the campus.
Putting the card away, he went upstairs and entered the classroom. At this time, among the few people in the classroom, Eriri had arrived much earlier than usual.
"This is the first time you've given me something, thank you."
Pulling out a chair, he put his school bag on the desk and softly thanked Eriri, who was lie on her desk in front of him.
It was the first time he had received a birthday gift from Eriri. Although it was just a card, the thought was enough.
Eriri's ears in front twitched, then she slowly turned around somewhat stiffly, observing Aki Tomoya out of the corner of her eye.
Her eyes were still a little nervous, as if she was worried that Aki Tomoya wasn't satisfied with the card.
"...Your reaction is really cold. Can you be a little happier?"
Eriri sighed.
After watching for a long time, Aki Tomoya's reaction wasn't much different from usual.
In Eriri's imagination, Aki Tomoya should have been more excited.
"Thank you for specially preparing the card. I'm very happy."
"It wasn't specially prepared, just a little token of appreciation..."
Eriri proudly lifted her chin.
Before deciding what to give, she had also carefully considered it.
"But I'm impressed you could tell it was from me."
"In reality, I only know two people who are good at drawing. Excluding Umi, it's only you."
Using the process of elimination was best at this time; he figured the only people he knew who were good at drawing were them.
"I thought you were the type who could tell who drew it with just a glance."
"Uh-huh."
Aki Tomoya shrugged.
But then again, the art style was indeed quite familiar.
"Anyway, thanks."
He thanked her casually again, and Eriri couldn't tell if Aki Tomoya truly took the matter to heart.
But he had accepted it, hadn't he?
The closing ceremony for the second semester of the third year, scheduled for this Saturday, has been decided.
"Good morning, Aki Tomoya."
Kamigō Yoshihiko rubbed his sleepy eyes and greeted him.
"Good morning... The exam is coming soon, so make sure to get enough rest, Yoshihiko."
Aki Tomoya returned the greeting while also reminding him.
"Ha~, I'm so sleepy... In the blink of an eye, this year is over. Christmas, summer vacation, New Year's Day, and then the center exam..."
Kamigō Yoshihiko propped up his chin, a hint of fatigue still in his eyes.
Unknowingly, they were already close to graduating from high school.
Soon, the crucial exams would begin.
It was precisely because of this that during the morning class meeting, their homeroom Teacher, Hasumi Kanoko, kept reminding everyone in the class.
As the winter break approached, the Teacher's words also increased, repeating reminders over and over.
The last week of the second semester of the third year passed much faster than expected.
The end of the closing ceremony on Saturday also marked the final stage of the third year.
For the vast majority of people not pursuing higher education, this time passed by in a blur.
But for students like Aki Tomoya, who spent most of their time preparing for exams, time was very tight.
During the december school festival, the third-year students basically had nothing to do; even the cleanup after the night festival was mostly done by the first and second-year students.
In last year's school festival, the students' main focus was definitely Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had already graduated from Toyosaki Academy, and Eriri, but neither of them appeared at the night festival.
This year, Eriri took the lead.
As for Aki Tomoya, he was even more low-key this year, hardly showing up at all.
On Christmas, the twenty-fourth, it snowed lightly in Tokyo. Aki Tomoya didn't have much of an impression of this rare white Christmas in Tokyo.
However, he did remember that on New Year's Day, many relatives came to visit, and he stayed in his room with headphones on, reviewing English.
"I heard Aki Tomoya's grades are quite good, he's going to take the Todai exam!"
Hyodo Michiru's Father said exaggeratedly to everyone.
And Aki Tomoya's Mother quickly replied modestly, "Even if he doesn't get into Todai, getting into another University's Faculty of Medicine in Tokyo would be fine!"
Hyodo Michiru felt restless and was about to sneak upstairs when she was immediately held down by her Father.
"My daughter is different; she's not good at studying, only messing around. I don't know if she'll be able to get married in the future, sigh..."
"Old Man!!!!"
Hyodo Michiru looked indignant.
Is music an improper occupation?!
Moreover, she also earned performance fees from performing in Akihabara, and although it wasn't much, at least she had someone like a patron who could help her.
Downstairs, there was laughter and chatter, while Aki Tomoya upstairs took off his headphones and rubbed his eyes.
"Finally, I can rest…"
During New Year's Day, Aki Tomoya didn't schedule too many tasks for himself.
On January 1st, New Year's Day, there were only twenty-one days left until the first test.
Pushing open the window, the biting cold wind of winter rushed in, instantly clearing Aki Tomoya's head.
He looked back at his room; the walls were covered with notes, and the cabinets that used to hold his treasures were now full of reference books.
"What a shame about my old treasures, they've been gathering dust for two years…"
After starting to prepare for the exam, Aki Tomoya had sold off many of his otaku items, but there were still many gathering dust at home, which he had forgotten to tidy up or had no time to manage.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Aki, can I come in? Just let me stay inside, I won't disturb your studying!"
Hyodo Michiru's voice sounded from outside.
He rubbed his neck and went to open the door. Hyodo Michiru happily bounced into his room, while Aki Tomoya headed downstairs.
"Huh, going down?"
"I'm hungry."
He might as well leave the room to her alone, as his tasks for today were already completed.
Doing stretching exercises as he went, Aki Tomoya went downstairs without looking back.
"…Anyway, I'm not going down until I leave!"
Going down meant listening to his parents' nagging, saying this was wrong and that was wrong. Hyodo Michiru was already tired of hearing it.
Staying upstairs was much quieter.
On the first day of the New Year's Day, both parents were home, and relatives had also gathered in Tokyo for a rare reunion.
Immersed in the New Year's Day atmosphere, Aki Tomoya did not forget that the first test was only three weeks away.
"Brother, don't pour Aki Tomoya wine, he's not twenty yet!"
Mother stopped Hyodo Michiru's father's action.
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